‘Zipper’ ban to start

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will officially prohibit tomorrow the use of Danish Seine, locally known as zipper or hulbot-hulbot, as a fishing method.

BFAR-7 Information Officer Alma Saavedra said that they consider hulbot-hulbot, which is very common in the towns of Bantayan, Sta. Fe and Madridejos in the northern part of Cebu province, destructive.

“Daghan gyud ang nag-gamit aning (A lot are using this) illegal method of fishing,” she told The FREEMAN yesterday.

The move is compliance with Department of Agriculture Fisheries Administrative Order (AO) No. 246, which bans hulbot-hulbot as system of fishing, which Secretary Proceso Alcala signed on Sept. 12, 2013.

The total ban is in accordance with Section 92 of Republic Act 8550, or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, which declared the use of destructive fishing gears as unlawful.

“This is a long-time dream coming true,” said environmental lawyer and Ramon Magsaysay laureate Antonio Oposa Jr., when asked for comment.

Oposa said that Visayan Sea governors (including former Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia) were among those pushing for the total ban of hulbot-hulbot.

“Zipper ang tawag ana diri sa ato (is our name for it here). This is a very destructive form of fishing,” said Oposa.

Zipper is a fishing method where boats scrapes the bottom of the sea, destroying sea grasses and coral reefs, which are the natural habitat of fishes and other aquatic animals.

“Walay patawad ni nga (This) fishing method kay hasta ang pinakagamay nga isda makuha man (spares nothing because even the smallest fish gets caught),” Saavedra said.

Oposa is calling on all commercial fishermen to begin working with them for the rehabilitation of our seas for the benefit of all.

“This zipper is a curse in our municipal waters. Some succeeded (in fishing using it) because some have special arrangement with some unscrupulous local officials,” he said.

He said he cannot ascertain how many would be affected by the ban. Saavedra said BFAR-7 has no estimate on the numbers fishermen, both small- and medium-scale, engaging in hulbot-hulbot.

“Grabe na sila kadaghan (There are a lot of them). Di ko maka- (I cannot) quantify sa kadaghan.  I am congratulating BFAR, especially BFAR National Director (Asis) Perez, for having the political will to implement this,” Oposa said.

In an earlier interview, Perez said he would meet fishing boat operators this Wednesday on this matter.

“BFAR will give them six months after implementation to change (fishing) gears; after that, we will start apprehending violators,” said Perez, who is also a staunch environmentalist.

AO 246 repealed the 2013 AO No. 222, which allowed the use of modified Danish Seine fishing method as long as it is outside the municipal waters, or 15 kilometers away from the coastline.

“Karon kay wala nay (Now, there is no more) designation og pila ka (by within how many) kilometers. Automatic na dakpon (arrest) if you use this kind of fishing method,” Oposa said.

As implementation of the new order starts, BFAR will also require small and medium scale including the large scale fishermen to register.

AO no. 246 makes it unlawful for any person to operate municipal and commercial fishing boats using Danish Seine and Modified Danish Seine in catching fish in Philippine waters.

Those who are doing it are given six months from the effectivity of the order on Oct. 16, to change their fishing gears with legitimate equipment.

AO no. 246 further provides that operators, boat captains, master fishermens and the recruiter/organizer caught violating the order shall be imprisoned or for two to 10 years and fined not less than P100,000 to P500,000, or both punishments as set by the courts.  In addition, the boat and gear used shall be confiscated.

Meanwhile, BFAR will observe starting today the 50th annual Fish Conservation Week themed “Pangisdaang pinagyaman ngayon; henerasyong sagana sa panghabang panahon”.

A series of symposia and lectures are lined-up for this event. (FREEMAN)